Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada

From 1941 to 1992, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland housed an American military base. Today, its international airport is a key gateway for travelers venturing into the Far North. It is situated north of the Arctic Circle and offers access to breathtaking, untouched landscapes. Just a short distance away, visitors can witness the immense Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest in the Northern Hemisphere. Kangerlussuaq also boasts stunning tundra scenery, especially in autumn, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, foxes, reindeer, falcons, and eagles thrive in their natural habitat.

During your cruise, explore Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest town, founded in 1756. This charming Arctic settlement features vibrant stilt houses scattered across rolling terrain and a small fishing port marking the entrance to icy waters. The town center showcases historic buildings, a quaint church, a museum detailing Inuit heritage, and local craft shops. When your ship anchors, immerse yourself in Sisimiut’s unique Arctic atmosphere and connect with its welcoming residents.

The small hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq is on the east coast of Baffin Island, in the heart of Nunavut territory. Bounded by the Davis Strait, the island of Qikiqtarjuaq, formerly known as Broughton Island, is marked by the history of whale hunting. During the 19th century, European whalers traveled around the region and began trading with the Inuits. Later on, installing a military post and a landing strip facilitated access to this part of the world. Located very close to the Auyuittuq National Park, Qikiqtarjuaq has stunning landscapes of mountains, hills, and ice and is home to many emblematic Arctic animals: whales, seals, walruses, narwhals, and polar bears.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, do some shopping in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

To the south of Baffin Island, at the entrance to the fjord leading to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, lies the Grinnell Glacier. Iqaluit's name derives from the Inuktitut language; it means "place of many fish," as the fjord waters teem with Arctic char. The glacier, approximately 800 meters (2,625 feet) high, is named after Henry Grinnell, an American philanthropist who funded several polar expeditions in the 19th century. Weather permitting, you can admire the glacier front from the sea during an outing in an inflatable dinghy before landing to walk up the valley, running along the glacier in a rocky landscape with tundra vegetation.

In the northwest of Ungava Bay, in Nunavut, the northernmost Canadian province, Akpatok Island reveals its chiseled coastline. Uninhabited by men, it is occupied by the thick-billed murres for which it was named (Akpat is their name in Inuit). Its cliffs, rising to 200 meters (656 feet) high, make an ideal nesting environment for these birds. Dominated by a vast limestone plateau, the island is surrounded by numerous beaches where walruses sun themselves in the summertime. From your inflatable dinghy, if the weather conditions allow it, you might also have the chance to glimpse some polar bears roaming along the cliffs in search of food.

Nachvak Fjord is one of the longest fjords on the north coast of Labrador, stretching out over 20 km (12.4 miles). Steep-sided, it is 2 km (1.2 miles) wide and lined with sheer rock faces. On its western end, its two arms, Tallek and Tasiuyak, form the outlet of glacial valleys with a characteristic U shape. The Torngat Mountains, the highest points of the surrounding relief, are Labrador's tallest. Nachvak Fjord has always been an important fishing spot for the Inuit of Labrador and was once the northernmost trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. You can admire spectacular views from the ship's exterior decks before boarding an inflatable dinghy to get as close as possible to the coast.

Nain is the northernmost permanent settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador, accessible only by air or sea. The town was established by Moravian missionaries in 1771 and has been inhabited ever since. It now has a population of around 850, composed mainly of Inuits. Fishing is the main income-generating activity, with hunting and traditional trapping activities resuming in winter. Accompanied by your naturalist and local guides, you can have the chance to discover daily life in Nain and then set off on a hike in the surrounding hills. There, discover a beautiful view of the small wooded valley in which the village lies.

Discover the picturesque community of Rigolet on the north coast of Labrador. The wooden promenade, looking out onto the spruce forest and the waters of Hamilton Inlet, is one of the longest in the world. The village, located very near Lake Melville, houses a community of 300 inhabitants who are, in the main part, descendants of the Labrador Inuit and the European traders who came to settle in these parts from the 18th century onwards. During your port of call, admire the beautiful pieces of local craftsmanship: weaved baskets, mats, sealskin clothing, and sculptures. Wildlife fans will not be disappointed with the possibility of observing whales, seals, orcas, bears, foxes, otters, and migratory birds.

Lying some 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the wind-battered coast of Labrador, the small and isolated Battle Harbor cultivates the traditions of a community of Newfoundland fishermen. Once home to a saltfish mercantile complex established around 1770, the island offers visitors a carefully maintained heritage in a stunning setting of rocky coves and emerald moors. The small, colorful wooden houses, the shops, and the fish warehouses, all vestiges reflecting the rich local history, have earned the island its designation as a National Historic Site of Canada. Your team of naturalists will guide you along the island's paths for an immersion into the past of the tough fishermen who settled here.

Located at the Northern extremity of the island of Newfoundland, L'Anse aux Meadows is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only site known to have been established by the Vikings in North America. Its ancient vestiges provide the first traces of European presence in the new world. The remains on this splendid 11th-century Scandinavian archaeological site are identical to those in Iceland. Aboard your ship, cruise in the wake of those first Vikings who discovered the tip of North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived on the shores of the American continent. It is a memorable adventure in a setting punctuated with coastal peat bogs, grass, and many varieties of shrubs and lichen.

Included Excursion:

Viking experience
Explore Anse aux Meadows, North America’s first known Viking settlement site. Visit the Interpretation Center, walk the trails to the archaeological site, and enter a recreated Norse village. At Norstead, see a replica Viking ship, try axe throwing, or learn traditional weaving.

In the azure setting of the Newfoundland coast, Twillingate stands like a rare jewel, with its jagged cliffs embracing the ocean. This picturesque haven, inhabited for over 3,000 years, was once the fiefdom of intrepid fishermen. The municipality now proudly shelters its secular lighthouse, an immutable sentinel facing the Atlantic. In this area, as soon as you arrive on the island, make the most of six walking trails in the heart of the famous Rockcut Twillingate Trails, from where you can be able to admire the striking views of local birdlife, unique geological formations and, if you are lucky, majestic northern moose. These itineraries wind their way through wild and preserved nature, completely immersing a coastal ecosystem featuring rare beauty. For those wishing to enjoy a more contemplative experience, the local museum, the historic lighthouse, and the church make for very rich cultural alternatives, enabling visitors to explore the secrets of Twillingate's fascinating maritime heritage, which is remarkably concentrated.

Bonavista is a charming and picturesque fishing village nestled along the eastern flank of Newfoundland's island; its authentic and preserved character will surprise you. Fall in love with these mysterious and untamed lands, where the ocean clashes vigorously against the protruding and sheer cliffs, and the wind ripples the high wild grass covering the moor. In the nearby Dungeon Provincial Park, you can explore this unique nature while observing the ballet of the many seabirds that have taken up residence on these coastlines.

In the northern confines of Newfoundland, Trinity Bay unfolds like an aquatic jewel set in the granitic case of the Atlantic coast. Its deep azure waters creep into the crevices of the coastline, creating a maze of fjords and inlets that provide refuge for myriad marine species. The jagged cliffs that overlook it, age-old remnants of glacial erosion, offer a splendid spectacle for the contemplative gaze. This maritime enclave, the cradle of abundant biodiversity, remains an eloquent witness to the untamed magnificence of boreal nature.

Be charmed by the small multi-colored wooden houses hanging to the side of cliffs at the entrance to the bay or edging the small steep streets of the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Their green, blue, red, and yellow colors are reminiscent of fishing boats. This quiet little port at the end of the world, the easternmost in North America, became the first English colony founded on American territory in 1497. Protected by the Gulf Stream, the climate here is relatively mild, and the natural landscapes are spectacular. You can enjoy magnificent panoramas from Signal Hill. At this hill's summit, Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.

Included Excursions:

Sea outings and puffin watching
Near Saint John's, Bay Bulls is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. One side boasts North America's largest puffin colony, while the other reveals dramatic coastal scenery best explored by boat.  

Set off on a two-hour sea excursion through Newfoundland's stunning landscapes. Sail past the North Head lighthouse, towering cliffs, and the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, home to puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, and razorbills. Despite the late season, you might even spot a whale in the distance.

St. John's and Cape Spear
St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, charms with its colorful Victorian homes and rugged coastline.  

Visit Signal Hill, the city's highest point, for sweeping views and a glimpse into its maritime past. Explore downtown's historic architecture before heading to Cape Spear, North America's easternmost point, where dramatic cliffs and a distant lighthouse frame the wild seascape. On the way back, pass through the fishing village of Petty Harbor.

Off the Canadian coast, discover Saint Pierre Island, one of the two main islands of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago, the only French territory in North America. Endowed with a natural harbor, the island, whose name refers to the patron saint of fishermen, developed around the fishing industry and still has many traces of its past today. Whale hunting, cod fishing, alcohol smuggling during the Prohibition: all of these memories are still alive in the capital, Saint-Pierre. The island is also renowned for observing exceptional fauna, including, among others, whales, fin whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and petrels.